Eskom is in a desperate race against time to ensure a R5 billion project to replace six ageing steam generators (SGs), at its only nuclear power station, Koeberg, does not suffer any further delays – but their efforts have been dealt a potentially major blow after the final 20-metre long, 360-ton SG was "dropped" inside a Chinese factory.  

The Steam Generator Replacement (SGR) project is a key part of a host of works that must be undertaken as part of a R20 billion refurbishment of Koeberg designed to extend the life of the power station, which was built in the 1980s, by a further 20 years. 

The contract was awarded to French company Framatome in 2014 and has now progressed so close to the June 2024 Koeberg generation license expiry date for Unit 1 that Eskom cannot appoint another contractor to take over, as procurement processes would simply take too long.

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